Cigar-bunching machine.



L. R. GINDRAT.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

Anucnlou man sEPLzs, 1915. aENEwED AUG. 2o. wxs.

1,281,344., .Patented 0@t.15,1918.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@gw/@LW Y m% L. R: GENDBAT.

CIGAR BUNCHHJG MACHlNE.

APPLlcATloN FILED sEPT.25. 191s. RENEWED AuG.2o.19xs.

Lg, Patented oet. l5, 1918.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L. R. GINDRAT.

CIG/1R BUNCHING MAcHlNE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.25.195. RENWED A116120, 1918.

Patented 001. 1.5, 1918.

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l0 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

-L. n'. GINDHAT.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-25.19I5. RENEWED AUG. 20. 1918.

1.281344. Patented 0t.15,1918.

1o SHEETS-SHEET s:

L. R. (llN'DRATI CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED sEPLzs. m5. RENEw'ED-Aue. 20. 191s.

Patented 001;. 15, 191&

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

mx WN www Wh Qu eww L. R. GINDRAI.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

APrucmoNnLEn ssPLzs. 1915. RENEwED Aue. 2o. Isls.

1,281,344. Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

lo SHEETS-SHEET 1.`

nl: mmm, uns co.. ruumumm wummmm. n. c.

L. n, GINDRAT. y CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT25. 15H5. RENEWED AUG. 20. |918.

Patented Oct. I5, f1918.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

L. R. GINDRAT.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.25, |915. RENEwED Aue. 2o. 191s.

1,281,344. Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

Io` SHEETS-SHEET s.

L. R. GINDRAT.

GIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.25, IaIs. lIzIaIIEwIEIJ Aus. 2o. 191s.

1,281,344. Patented 061;. 15, 1918.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET I0.

LOUIS R. GINDRAT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB T0 THE CIGAR MACHINE CORPORATION OF AMERICA, OF BALTIMORE7 'MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CIGAR-BUNCHING MACHINE.

Patented oet. 15, 191e.

Application led September 25, 1915, Serial No. 52,623. Renewed August 20, 1918. Serial No. 250,752.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis R. GINDRAT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Bunching Machines, of which lthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for making cigar bunches, and more particularly to means for automatically feeding the filler to the bunchforming mechanism. In my companion application, Serial No. 38,435, tiled July 7, 1915, I have shown a mechanism for cutting filler to lengths suitable for forming cigar bunches, and for storing the'ller in an even layer between webs or belts wrapped around a charging reel. l/'Vhenever a reel is charged, it is removed from the machine and replaced by an 'empty reel, whichis then charged by the operation of the machine, and so on. The charged reels serve as portable storage receptacles for the cut filler which is held in an undisturbed'state in spiral layers between the belts or webs until it is desired to make the filler into bunches. Whilethe function of the mechanism of the prior application referred tois to charge the reels with cut filler, the function of the invention disclosed in the present apparatus is to automatically discharge the reels and to cause the filler to be delivered from the reels to the bunchforming mechanism. For the purpose of illustration, the present invention is shown applied to a type of cigar bunching machine in which the filler is carried on a belt to the bunch-forming devices.V In such machines, the filler is usually laid upon the feed belt by hand, but with the present improvements, the vfiller is delivered in al continuous layer automatically from the charged reel on to the feed belt, and is thence carried to the bunching devices, the operation of discharging the reel being timed to the operation of the bunching mechanism so that the reel discharges only rast enough tomeet the requirements of said mechanism.

In addition to the means for supplying filler continuously to the bunch forming mechanism, I have disclosed in the present application improvements in the cutter for severing the tobacco packed in the receiver, whereby the cutting operation is facilitated and wastev of tobacco isv prevented, and I have also Vdisclosed certain modicationsin the devices for operating the gateof the receiver, the ejector, and the feeding means, which will 4be hereinafter described.

In the Y accompanying drawing, which illustrates my invention,

Figure 1 is a left side elevation of a cigar bunching machine embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the same;

F ig. 3 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, some of the parts being omitted;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the spool tensioning devices;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5; Y

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the feed operating mechanism, and also parts of the bunch forming mechanism;

Fig. 8 isl a top plan view of parts of the machine, the two upper sections of the main frame, and the parts carried thereby, being removed;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the knife for severing the filler when packed in the receiver;

Fig. 10 is a side View of the ejector and operating mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the ejector;

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the means for operating' one set of packing fingers; and,

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the parts composing one side of the main -frame of the machine.

Referring to the drawing, A indicates the supporting frame of the machine, whichis composed of two similar side frames suitably connected together by cross-rods, each side` frame being 4composed of several sections, as illustrated in Fig. 13. The lower section@ of the frame rests upon a base 1, and upon the lower section is secured afront upper section a. A rear upper sectionY a2 is hinged -.at 2 to the section a, and upon the section a2 is fitted a section a3, which is adjustable longitudinally on the section a2. In the lower part of the machine is mounted a'motor 3, which operates a worm gear 4, secured to a shaft 5 journaled in' suitable bearings in the frame. Upon this shaft 1s ]our naled a gear 6, whichv meshes with a gear 7 upon a main shaft 8, journaled in the upper section a of the frame. Upon the shaft 8 are mounted the various cams for operating the feeding and bunch-forming mechanisms.

continue the machinein operation, in whichl casethe pedal is not released by the operator untilitis desired to stop the machine. Any

suitable one-revolution clutch may be em-v ployed for this purpose. In therordinary operation of the machinethe operator allows the machine to come to rest after each revolution of vthe gear. The gears A6V and 7 are of the same diameter and therefore, in operation, the shaft S makes one revolution each time the clutch is released, and Vthen stops.

As the bunch-forn'iing mechanism ofthe machine shown in the drawings, with the eX eeption of a few modifications and changes which will be `hereinafter referred to, is not of my invention, it .need not be described in detail. Briefly., the liller f, Fig. 4, is fed by a traveling` belt 1() to the sprocket or receiver r, wherein it is packed by sets of lingers 11a-nd 12, operated by cams on the shaft 8, which fingers move alternately vinto and out of thc receiver to pack the Eiller therein. At each operation of the shaft 3, a knife `13 moves transversely through the receiver, cutting off a bundle of iller; a gate 14, which forms part of the wall of thereceiver, Athen moves downward and an ejector 15 then moves forward and carries the bundle ofsevered filler down on to an apron 16, and this apron lis then operated to roll the binder upon the filler and form the bunch, the complete bunch being` delivered by lthe 'binder mechanism on to 'a conveyer 1S, which Vis continuously in motion and carries the bunches from the machine.

The bunchfforming machine, without my improvements, requires two operators, one to place the ller by hand upon the traveling` belt which feeds the filler to the bunchfor-ming mechanism, and the otlier to place the binders upon the apron in position' to be wrapped `around the bundles of filler as they emerge from the receiver, the latter operator also controlling` the starting and stopping of the machine. v

i The present invention relates principally topa mea-ns for auton'iatical ly supplying filler to the bunch-forming mechanism, whereby the services of one operator are dispensed with and a very considerable saving in tobacco is effected by reason of the fact that Y handling ofthe filler after it has been cut to the proper length is not required. In the present invention, the filler isA carried between :belts or webs 19 and 20, which are rwound upon a portable reel A21. This reel is charged with the filler, cut tothe proper length to form the cigars by mechanism designed vfor the purpose but not shown iherein, and the charged reel is then placed upon the bunchingmachine. vSpring p'resse'dplnvtles 22 are mounted inbearings 23 'in -rearwardly projecting brackets 24onfthe1part a of the frame. The pintles are provided with crossnieces 222L at their outer ends which areadapted to rest in notches '23a' in the bearings. .By ,pulling the cross-pieces outwardly and turning them at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 3, so thatthey will .rest upon the walls of the notches, fthe reel may be removed or placed with its bore in line with the axes of the p'intles, and when the latter are given a quarter-turn, so that their handles aline withthe notches, the pintles will be 'pressed into the borel of the reel by their springs and will support the reel as shown in the drawing. "A friction brake, indicated at 25, Fig. 1, yis adapted to bear against one disk of the reel to -prevent the reel from turning freely. When the charged reel has been .placed in its position on the machine, `the 'outer ends of the webs 1-9 and 20 are threaded into "the machine andconnected to the cores of empty spools 26 and 27, respectively. As shown, the web 19 `passes over a curved guide-piece 28, hinged at .-29 to the part a3 [of the frame, and thence passes around a roller30 which extends transversely through saidpart, adjacent to the lrear end of the feed belt 10. From the roller 30 the web 19 extends-around they feed roller 31, thence around a pressure roller 32, which bears' against the roller 31, and thence to the core 268L of the spool 26. The web 20, which overlies the web 19, passes beneath a roller 33, mounted in the part a3 of the frame, and thence extends over and parall'el kwith the feed belt 10 and around a guide roller 34, and thence tothecore 27?v of the spool .27. It will lbe .seen that with this arrangement. as the webs are taken up by the spools 26 and 27,-the filler 'between the webs willbe carried from the reel to the feed belt. and thence to the bunching mechanism. In advance of theroller 34 is arranged a slotted guide plate v35 which serves as an upper guide to keep the filler in position upon the feed belt while passing from the roller 34 to the receiver, wherein it is packed by the iingers11 and'1`2. The spool 26 is removably mounted in hangers 36 and l37 on the part a2 of the frame, and the spool 27 is removably mounted in uprights 38 and 39 on the part as of the frame. the point where the filler is delivered on to the feed belt, between the guide rollers 30 and 33, (Fig. 4) the webs separate and each winds on to a separate spool. During the operation of the machine, as presently eX- plained, the webs become unwound from the reel and wound on to the spools, land when all of the filler has been discharged from the reel, the reel and spools are removed and afull reel and a pair of empty spools are substituted.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing, the spool 26 is shown in longitudinal central section and it will be understood that the spool 27 is similarly constructed. As shown, the core 26a of the spool 26 is hollow and the spindle 26" is adapted to slide longitudinally in the core and to be held with its ends projecting beyond the heads 26c of the spool by a spring 26d. The end of the spindle shown at the right in Fig. 6 is notched, as indicated at 26e to engage and interlock with a key or projection on the end of a short shaft 40, which is journaled in the hub 41a of a spring bar` re'l 41, said hub being journaled in a bearing 37a of the hanger 37. When the spool is mounted in the machine, it will be seen that the spindle of the spool is clutched to the shaft 40. The spindle has a reduced portion 26f, near the left hand end in Fig. 6, and when the spindle is pulled to the left against the action of its spring, this reduced portion is drawn out into the bearing 36a on the hanger 36, which bearing, as shown in Fig. 2, has a segmental notch 36b through which the reduced portion of the spindle may readily pass. To remove or insert the spool, it will berevident that it is only necessary to pull the spindle to the left, in Fig. 6, so that its right hand end will clear the spring barrel and the reduced portion 26i of the spindle will register with the slot in the bearing 36a, when the spool may be taken out or inserted with freedom. When the spool is upon the machine, it is locked against accidental displacement,the bearing portion 26g of the spindle being too large to pass through the slot 36".

The spring barrel 41 is journaled in the bearing 37' and incloses a spiral spring 42, one end of which is attached to the shaft 40, while the other end is attached to the spring barrel. A. hand wheel 43 is provided upon U the shaft 40 and by turning this wheel the spool may be turned to apply an initial tension to the winding 'spring 42, the spring barrel being held by pawls, as hereinafter explained. Similarly, the spindle 27b of the spool 27 is journaled at one end in the notched bearing 38a (Fig. 2), and its opposite end engages a shaft 45, which is journaled within a spring barrel 44 (Fig. 6),and provided with a hand wheel 46, the hub of this spring barrel being journaled in the bearing 39a on the standard 39.

The spiral springs within the spring barrels are automatically maintained unde-r tension, during the operation of the machine, in order to apply a yielding pull uponthe webs, and take up the latter as the feeding mechanism draws the webs from the rcel to deliver the filler on to the feed'belt. During each revolution of ,the main shaft 8', a series of tappet pins 47 upon a cam plate 48 mounted on said shaft, successively engage and rock a tappet lever 49, which is secured to a rock shaft 50, (Figs. 1, 3, 7, and 8). Also secured to and depending from said rock shaft is a feed lever 51, having connected to its free end a spring 51a which moves the tappet lever into position to be engaged bv the tappets 47, as shown in Fig. 1. A link 52 connects the feed lever with a wrist plate 53, journaled upon a shaft 54, to which is secured a feed roller 55 for the feed belt 10. Upon the wrist plate 53 isl mounteda pawl 56, which engages a ratchet wheel 57, secured to the feed roller shaft 54. lt will be evident that each time the tappet lever is moved by one of the tappets, the feed roller 55 will be moved positively a given distance in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5. The extent of movement is governed by a stop pin 58, which is adjustable in a plate 59 and which is adapted to be engaged by an arm 53a on the wrist plate when the latter is returned by the spring 51a. The position of this stop pin, through the connections described, controls the position of the tappet lever 49 with relation to the path of movement of the tappets 47 and hence the extent of movement of the feed roller during each revolution of the shaft 8 may be varied by setting the stop pin in a different hole in the plate 59. i

The feed roller 31, around which the web 19 travels, is of the same diameter as the feed roller 55, around which the feed belt 10 travels, and these two feed rollers are geared together by gears 60 and 61, of the same diameter. Hence the peripheral movement of the feed roller for the web will be the same as that of the feed roller for the belt, and the web and belt will move in unison, and will be given several intermittent movements during each rotation of the main shaft 8. In order to avoid any slippage of the web on the feed roller 31, the pressure roller 32 is provided and this pressure roller bears heavily against the web between the rollers, being pressed toward the roller 31 by cams 62, which bear against blocks 63, supporting the shaft of the roller, these cams being upon the shaft 64 to which is attached a lever 65, having thereon a weight 66, through the medium of which the pressure roller is forced against the feed roller 31. Similarly, the spring pressed roller 67, bearing on the feed belt 10, keeps the latter taut and prevents slippage on the feed roller 55. The devices for applying spring tension to the spools 26 and 27 are actuated from the wrist plate 53. As shown, a link 68 is connected to the wrist plate at a point 69 below its aXis, and this link has a longitudinal slot 68a, at its opposite end, which is engaged by a pin 70 upon a rocker 71, which is journaled upon the hub of the spring barrel 41. This rocker carries a pawl 72 which engages a ratchet wheel 73, secured to said hub. A holding pawl 74, pivoted to the hanger 37, also engages the ratchet wheel and prevents backward rotation of said wheel and the spring barrel. A main spring 7 5 has one end connected by a stud 76 to a fixed part of the frame, and the other end of the spring isfconnected to the rocker 71 and tends to move lthe latter inl the direction to actuate the ratchet wheel and turn the spring barrel in opposition to the spiral spring 42 within said barrel. When the feed lever is operated by the tappets and the wrist plate 53 is thereby rocked, carrying the link 68 rearwardly, the pin 7 O, which is held in engagement with the inner end of the slot 68a by the spring 75, as indicated in Fig. 5, is pushed rearwardly, causing the rocker 71 and pawl 72 to move backward on the ratchet wheel, and as the tappets 47 allow the cam 49 and feed lever to return, the link 68 moves forward, thus withdrawing the pressure against the pin 70, and the main spring 75 then operates the ratchet mechanism to turn the spring barrel a certain distance and apply tension to the spring within the barrel. This operation is repeated as each tappet passes the tappet lever 49. rIhe spring within the barrel tends to turn the spool 26, but the latter is restrained by the pull of the belt and only moves a sufficient distance to take up the slack at each feeding movement. The spring barrel, however, is turned, at each feeding movement, an angular distance greater than that of the spool, until the tension of the winding spring within the barrel is balanced against the tension of the spring 7 5, after which the movement of the barrel is controlled so that a practically constant tension is maintained upon the winding spring. Thus, it will be evident that as the tension increases on the spring 42, a point will be reached where the spring 75 will not draw the roekerarm 71 back far enough lto carry the pin to the inner end of the slot in the link 68; hence, during the next rearward movement of said link, the rocker 71 will becarried a shorter distance than before and this shortening of the movement of the rocker will increase to a point where it will not be actuated by the link 68 until the rotation of the spool allows the spring 42 to relax to such an extent that it is overcome by the tension of the spring 75, when the rocker and pin 7 0 will be drawn forward ajshort distance and immediately pushed backward again by the link 68 at the next feeding movement. The spring serves to wind the spring 42 until one is balanced against the other and thus a constant winding tension is applied to the spool. p

In a similar manner the spring within the spring barrel 44, lwhich operates the spool 27, is maintained under constant tension.

the spring barrel 44, and a main spring 82v moves the rocker in the opposite direction to that in which it is movedA by the link 77. These parts operate, as will be evident, to wind the spring in the barrel 44, in the same way that the similar parts operate to wind the spring in the barrel 41.

In the operation of the feeding devices thus far described, the reel, charged with filler, and the empty spools, are placed in their bearings and the ends of the webs are threaded around the rollers and attached to the cores of the spools. An initial spring tension is preferably given to the winding springs, in the spring barrels, by giving a few turns to the hand wheels 43 and 46, after the webs have been attached to the spools. Thereafter, at each rotation of the shaft 8, during which the bunching devices perform a cycle of operations, the feed belt and one of the webs from the reel are given short intermittent feeding movements to carry theA ller to the bunch-forming devices, and each feeding movement is accompanied by voperations which tend to keep the spool winding springs under a constant tension so that the spools will take up the webs after the filler has been delivered tol the feed belt. The brake 25 bears constantly against one side of the reel, and while the spring which actuates the spool 27 is strong enough to keep the web 20 taut, it is not strong enough to overcome the resistance of the brake. rIhe reel, therefore, is only turned by the feeding means which acts upon the web 19. As the webs move in unison with the feed belt 10, the filler will be delivered in a continuous layer to the bunching mechanism. Except for the matter of convenience in threading the webs into the machine, the feed belt might be dispensed with and the web 19 might be continued around the roller 83, whichV is adjacent the receiver of the bunching mechanism.

As the filler should not be fed to the bunchforming mechanism faster than the bunches are made, provision is made for controlling the feeding mechanism by the mechanism for packing the filler in the receiver o", so that when the receiver has a certain quantity of filler within it, the feeding mechanism will be stopped until the quantity of material within the Areceiver is reduced to a certain extent, when the feeding will automatically commence. In the invention of the present application, the mechanisms for unwinding the webs from the reel as well as the feed belt, which are all operated by the feed lever 51, are controlled in theirvmove- Lacasse ments by the devices for packing the filler into the receiver of the bunch-forming mechanism. The packing fingers 12 are yieldingly mounted upon a yoke 84, and this yoke is rocked several times during each revalternately with the fingers 12 into and out of the receiver r several times during each revolution of the shaft 8, and the twosets of fingers pack the filler in the receiver. The

fingers 11 are secured rigidly to a yoke 89,

(Figs. 1, and 7,) which is secured to a rock shaft 90, and on said shaft is an arm 91 which is connected by a link 92 with an elbow lever 93, having a roller 94, which bears against the periphery of a cam plate 123. A spring 95, (Fig. 3) upon the shaft 90, normally presses the yoke in the direc tion to Carry the fingers 11 into the receiver, and the yoke and'fingers are moved in the opposite direction by the cam and connections just described. Hence, during each rotation of the shaft 8, the fingers will move into the receiver with a yielding ressure and will be moved positively out of the receiver several times. As the receiver fills up, the fingers, which pack the filler therein, will be prevented from entering' as far into the receiver as when there is a smaller quantity of filler therein. A latch or trigger 96 is journaled on the shaft 90, and has a hooked end 96a which is normally held against the peripheral surface of a segment 98, secured to the shaft 50 on which the feed lever 51 is mounted. This segment has a shoulder 98, adapted to be engaged by the hook on the trigger 96, and when the parts are hooked together, as shown in Fig. 7, the tappet arm 49 will be locked out of the path of movement of the tappets 47 so that these tappets cannot cause movements of the lfeed lever and feeding devices. The arm 96b of the triggerl extends to a point in line with an adjustable stop pin 99 on the yoke 89, andY at each operation of the yoke, when the receiver 1 is not full, the yoke will move far enough to cause the stop pin 99 to engage the trigger and release it from the shoulder 98a, permitting the tappet lever 49 to c Vbe'engaged by the tappets 47. When the receiver fills up, however, the fingers cannot enter the receiver to the same extent as before, and this limits the movements of the yoke so that the stop pin 99 will not engage the trigger, and therefore, when the tappet lever is swung by one of the tappets, the trigger will interlock with the segment 98 and hold ther tappet arm out of the path of movement of the tappets, preventing further Y feeding movement of the feed belt and the Webs on the reel. k.When the amount of filler in the receiver is reduced by the severance and ejection of a bundle of filler therein, the packing fingers will then move farther down into the pocket, during the next operation and the trigger will be released, permitting the feed movement to continue.

At an early point in the revolution of the main shaft 8, the knife 13 (Figs. 4, 7, and 8) is moved horizontally through the receiver r and severs the filler packed therein, cutting off a sufficient amount of the filler to form a cigar bunch. This knife is secured to a cross-head 100, which is reciprocated by a frame 101, pivoted at 102 and rocked by an arm 103, which has a roller 104 engaging a groove in a cam 105 on the shaft 8. The knife remains across the receiver while the gate 14 is lowered and the ejector 15 operated to move the severed bunch down on to the apron 16, when the knife returns. The knife 13, shown best in outline in Figs. 8 and 9, has a novel form of cutting edge which is more effective than a straight shearing edge. As shown, the edge 13 is bowed slightly outward throughout the greater portion of its ylength and the ends 13b of the cutting edge are turned gradually forward and project beyond the central portion of the cutting edge. The receiver r, as shown best in Fig. 8, is closed at its ends by side pieces 106 so that the filler cannot be forced out of the ends ,of the receiver when the knife passes through it. With this form of knife edge, the forwardly turned parts 13b first enter the receiver and engage the filler at its ends, and the central portion of the edge then engages the central part of the filler and shears toward both ends. If this shearing action forces the filler endwise in the receiver, it will be pressed against the forwardly curved edges 13b of the knife and severed.

The size of the cigar bunch will depend upon the amount of filler packed into the receiver 7' below the level of the knife, and in order to make bunches of different sizes, the plate 107, (Fig. 4) through which the gate operates ,and which forms thebottom of the receiver, is removed and replaced by a plate of different thickness which enlarges the capacity of the lower part of the receiver. This necessitates a change in the extent of downward movement of the gate, which must move to aV position flush with the plate 107. The gate-is operated by a lever 108,

113-4114 and 115 in the lever 111,v arranged` `in the arc of a circle about the pivotal connection between the link 110 and lever 108, by means of Which the link 110 may be connected to the lever 111 at various distances from the fulcrum point of the latter, to vary the downward. movement of the gate from its normal position without carrying the gate above its normal position.

In the type of machine shown in the drawing, the ejector has heretofore been operated by a link connecting the ejector directly with a cam lever. Because of the large angle through which the ejector moves, I have arranged gearingbetween the cam lever and the ejector, as shown in Fig. 10, which operates more satisfactorily than the direct link connection referred to.

Referring particularly t0 Fig. 10, the cam which operates the ejector is indicated at 116 and the cam lever, which is centrally pivoted, is indicated at 117. This lever has a roller 118, on one arm engaging a groove in the cam, and the opposite arm of the lever is connected by a link 118iL to an arm 119 secured to a shaft 120, on which is mounted a gear segment 121, which meshes vdirectly witha pinion 122 on the shaft on which the ejector 15 is mounted. It will be evident that as the shaft 8, on which the cam 116 is mounted, rotates, the ejector will oscillate back and forth through the required arc without straining the parts.

What I claim is:

1. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with bunch-forming mechanism, of a reel, a pair of webs adapted to hold a layer of filler therebetween upon the reel, and means, timed to the operation of said mechanism, for unwinding said webs.

2. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with bunch-forming mechanism, of a reel, a pair of webs adapted to hold a layer of filler therebetween upon the reel, and means, timed'to the operation Ofsaid mechanism, for unwinding and separating said webs. j

3. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with bunch-forming mechanism, of a reel, a pair of webs adapted to hold a layer of filler-therebetween upon the reel, spools for receiving the webs, and means, timed to the operation of said mechanism for windingthe .webs upon the spools.

4. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with bunch-formin mechanism, of a reel, a pair of webs adapted to hold a layer of filler therebetween upon the reel, means,

. timed to the operation of said mechanism,

for drawing one of said webs from the reel, spools for receiving the webs, and means for rotating said spools.

5. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with a bunch-forming. mechanism,

Vof a reel, a pair of vwebsadapted to hold a layer of filler therebetween upon the reel,

means, timed to the operation of said mechmeans for applying a yielding winding tension to said spools.

6. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with bunchforming (mechanism, of a reel, a pair of webs adapted to hold a layer of filler therebetween upon Vthe reel, a brake for the reel, means, timed tothe opf eration of said mechanism, for drawing one of said webs from the reel, spoolsfor receiving the webs, and means for rotating said spools. A

7. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with bunch-forming mechanism, of means for delivering filler thereto comprising a reel, a pair of spools, a pair of webs adapted to hold a layer of filler therebetween upon the reel, each web connected to one of said spools,rsprings for turning the spools to wind the webs thereon, means opspools to wind the webs thereon, means operated by the machine for applying a constant tension to the springs, a feed roller for moving one of said webs, and means controlled by the bunch-forming mechanism for operating said roller. l

V9. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with bunch-formingmechanism comprising a receiver and means for packing filler in said receiver, of a feed belt leading to the receiver, a reel, a pair of webs adapted to hold a layer of filler therebetween upon the reel, means voperated by the machine for unwinding the webs from the reel, and means for guiding said webs to de liver the filler lto the feed belt.

10. In a kcigar bunching` machine, the combination with bunch-forming Y mechanism comprising a receiver and means for packing filler in said receiver, of a lfeed belt leading to the receiver,a reel, a pair of webs adapted to hold a llayer of filler therebetween upon the reel, means operated bythe machine and controlled by saidgp'acking means for unwinding the webs 'fromv the reel, and lmeansfor guiding said webs-to delliver the filler to the: feed belt.

vcomprising a receiver and means for ypacklng filler 1n said receiver, of a feed belt lead.-

ing to the receiver, a reel, a pair of webs adapted to hold a layer of filler therebetween upon the reel, means operated by the machine for unwinding the webs from the reel, means for guiding one of said webs to a point close to the feed belt, and means for guiding the other web over and parallel with the feed belt.

12. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with bunch-forming mechanism, of means for feeding ller thereto comprising a reel and a pair of spools, webs connecting the reel with the spools, means for positively feeding one of said webs, winding springs for the spools, main springs and means operated thereby for applying tension to the winding springs, and means operated by the machine for applying tension to the main springs.

13. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with bunch-forming mechanism, of means for feeding ller thereto comprising a reel and a pair of spools, webs connecting the reel with the spools, means for positively feeding one of said Webs, Winding springs for the spools, main springs and means operated thereby for applying tension to the winding springs, and means, coacting with the feed mechanism for applying tension to the main springs.

14. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with bunch-forming mechanism, of means for feeding filler thereto comprising a reel and a pair of spools, webs connecting the reel with the spools, means for positively feeding one of said webs, winding springs for the spools, main springs and ratchet mechanism operated thereby for applying tension to the winding springs, and' means for restoring tension to the main springs.

15. In a cigar bunching machine, a pair of webs adapted to hold a layer of ller therebetween, a pair of spools for receiving the webs, winding springs for said spools, main springs and mechanisms operated thereby for applying tension to the winding springs, and means for applying tension to said main springs comprising a rocking member, links extending between said member and said mechanisms and having lostmotion connections with the latter, and means for rocking said member.

16. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with a receiver and means for packing ller therein, of a knife movable transversely through the receiver and having its cutting edge forwardly turned at the ends.

17. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with a receiver and means for packing filler therein, of a knife `movable transversely through the receiver and having its cutting edge receding from the central part toward the ends.

18. In a cigar bunching machine, the combination with a receiver and means for packing filler therein, of a knife movable transversely through the receiver and having its cutting edge receding from the central part toward the ends and turned forwardly at the ends.

-In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

LOUIS R. GINDRAI.

Copies of this patentA may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

